Method of making wrist support for joint positioning

ABSTRACT

A method of making a wrist support includes molding a first section such that it is configured to receive a forearm, molding a second section such that it is configured to receive a hand, and molding a bridging section that is integrally formed with the first section and extends between and connects together the first section and the second section. The bridging section is generally flexible and recoverable and permits flexing of the second section relative to the first section in a radial-ulnar plane when a forearm is received by the first section of the wrist support and a hand is received by the second section of the wrist support, the bridging section biasing the first section and the second section toward a particular disposition relative to each other.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of, and claims the benefit ofpriority under 35 U.S.C. §120 to, U.S. patent application Ser. No.11/187,589, pending, filed Jul. 22, 2005, which '589 applicationpublished as US 20060015980 and which '589 application is acontinuation-in-part patent application of U.S. design patentapplication Ser. No. 29/209,985, filed Jul. 22, 2004, now U.S. DesignPat. No. 520,141, and which '589 application is a nonprovisional patentapplication of, and claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C§119(e) to, U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/590,941,expired, filed Jul. 22, 2004. Each of these patent applications, patent,and patent application publication is incorporated herein by reference.

COPYRIGHT STATEMENT

All of the material in this patent document is subject to copyrightprotection under the copyright laws of the United States and othercountries. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimilereproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure,as it appears in official governmental records but, otherwise, all othercopyright rights whatsoever are reserved.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many wrist supports for disposition on an arm proximal or about a wristare available. There are supports for preventing wrist flexion or formaintaining a particular disposition of a hand relative to a forearm.Typical such supports, having hard-shell or rigid beam components, arenot conveniently adjusted with regard to the disposition of the handrelative to the forearm. There are supports for use in supporting activewrist flexion. These supports generally include complex hingingcontraptions having rigid members and highly localized hinging axesabout which a wrist may be forced to conform if flexing is to beachieved. Accordingly, a demand exists for one or more wrist supportsthat improve upon the braces currently available.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A first aspect of the invention generally relates to a joint supportand, more particularly, to a wrist support having a first section forreceiving a forearm, a second section for receiving a hand, and abridging section extending between and connecting together the firstsection and second section. The bridging section is integrally formed ina molding step with at least a portion the first section or a portion ofthe second section. The bridging section spans the wrist and permits thesecond section to flex in a radial-ulnar plane relative to the firstsection. Optionally, the bridging section includes an intermediateportion having a height that is greater than its width. Also optionally,the wrist support includes one or more straps for securing the supportin its disposition proximal a wrist.

In this first aspect, the wrist support may also include a tensioningline that extends along the bridging section. Tension in the tensioningline governs the disposition of the second section relative to the firstsection. A rotary device may be included for effecting adjustments inthe tension of the tensioning line, thereby effecting adjustments to thewrist support.

These and other aspects and features of the present invention will bedisclosed in connection with detailed descriptions of embodiments inaccordance with the present invention set forth below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

One or more embodiments of the present invention will be described indetail with reference to the accompanying drawings, which are brieflydescribed below, wherein the same elements are referred to with the samereference numerals, and wherein various elements are not necessarilyshown in conformance to any particular absolute or relative scale.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a dorsal plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a radial side view of the embodiment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 is an environmental dorsal plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is an environmental radial side view of the embodiment of FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As a preliminary matter, it will readily be understood by one havingordinary skill in the relevant art (“Ordinary Artisan”) that the presentinvention has broad utility and application. Furthermore, any embodimentdiscussed and identified as being “preferred” is considered to be partof a best mode contemplated for carrying out the present invention.Other embodiments also may be discussed for additional illustrativepurposes in providing a full and enabling disclosure of the presentinvention. Moreover, many embodiments, such as adaptations, variations,modifications, and equivalent arrangements, will be implicitly disclosedby the embodiments described herein and fall within the scope of thepresent invention.

Accordingly, while the present invention is described herein in detailin relation to one or more embodiments, it is to be understood that thisdisclosure is illustrative and exemplary of the present invention, andis made merely for the purposes of providing a full and enablingdisclosure of the present invention. The detailed disclosure herein ofone or more embodiments is not intended, nor is to be construed, tolimit the scope of patent protection afforded the present invention,which scope is to be defined by the claims and the equivalents thereof.It is not intended that the scope of patent protection afforded thepresent invention be defined by reading into any claim a limitationfound herein that does not explicitly appear in the claim itself.

Thus, for example, any sequence(s) and/or temporal order of steps ofvarious processes or methods that are described herein are illustrativeand not restrictive. Accordingly, it should be understood that, althoughsteps of various processes or methods may be shown and described asbeing in a sequence or temporal order, the steps of any such processesor methods are not limited to being carried out in any particularsequence or order, absent an indication otherwise. Indeed, the steps insuch processes or methods generally may be carried out in variousdifferent sequences and orders while still falling within the scope ofthe present invention. Accordingly, it is intended that the scope ofpatent protection afforded the present invention is to be defined by theappended claims rather than the description set forth herein.

Additionally, it is important to note that each term used herein refersto that which the Ordinary Artisan would understand such term to meanbased on the contextual use of such term herein. To the extent that themeaning of a term used herein—as understood by the Ordinary Artisanbased on the contextual use of such term—differs in any way from anyparticular dictionary definition of such term, it is intended that themeaning of the term as understood by the Ordinary Artisan shouldprevail.

Furthermore, it is important to note that, as used herein, “a” and “an”each generally denotes “at least one,” but does not exclude a pluralityunless the contextual use dictates otherwise. Thus, reference to “apicnic basket having an apple” describes “a picnic basket having atleast one apple” as well as “a picnic basket having apples.” Incontrast, reference to “a picnic basket having a single apple” describes“a picnic basket having only one apple.”

When used herein to join a list of items, “or” denotes “at least one ofthe items,” but does not exclude a plurality of items of the list. Thus,reference to “a picnic basket having cheese or crackers” describes “apicnic basket having cheese without crackers”, “a picnic basket havingcrackers without cheese”, and “a picnic basket having both cheese andcrackers.” Finally, when used herein to join a list of items, “and”denotes “all of the items of the list.” Thus, reference to “a picnicbasket having cheese and crackers” describes “a picnic basket havingcheese, wherein the picnic basket further has crackers,” as well asdescribes “a picnic basket having crackers, wherein the picnic basketfurther has cheese.”

Additionally, several terms such as “dorsal,” “volar,” “radial,” and“ulnar” are used herein with reference to features of the human hand.Indeed, descriptions herein of one or more illustrated embodiments ofthe invention sometimes are made with such terms that may imply that theembodiment is disposed on a forearm and hand. Use of such terms ofreference is made herein in order to facilitate an understanding of theinvention, and the forearm and the hand are not considered in suchembodiments to be actual elements of the invention.

For the purpose of interpreting these terms of reference, consider aforearm and open hand resting palm-side down upon a planar desktop, withthe forearm and palm generally contacting the desktop, and with thefingers and thumb generally straight and resting their lengths on thedesktop. The volar sides of the forearm, wrist, hand, and fingers aregenerally disposed toward and contact the desktop. Thus, thefingerprints generally are found on the volar sides of fingertips. Thedorsal sides of the forearm, wrist, hand, and fingers generally face inopposite direction to the volar sides of the forearm, wrist, hand, andfingers. These dorsal sides thus would be generally oriented away fromthe desktop. For example, fingernails generally grow from the dorsalsides of the fingers. The side of the hand from which the thumb dependsdefines the radial sides of the forearm, wrist, and hand. In contrast,the side of the hand opposing the radial side defines the ulnar sides ofthe forearm, wrist, and hand. For example, the fourth finger from thethumb of the hand, generally the smallest finger often called the“pinkie” finger, depends from the ulnar side of the hand. In view ofthese clarifications, these terms of reference are unambiguous and arewell-defined with regard to essentially any hand or wrist, includingboth the left hand and right hand.

Regarding the views of the figures, dorsal views herein refer to viewsdirected toward dorsal sides. For example, a dorsal view of a hand showsthe dorsal side of the hand, which side is sometimes called the back ofthe hand. Similarly, a radial view of a hand would include a showing ofthe thumb, a volar view of a hand would include a showing of the palm,and an ulnar view of a hand would include a showing of the fourth fingerfrom the thumb.

Regarding planes and axes, volar-dorsal planes are generallyperpendicular to radial-ulnar planes, and the forearm generally definesa longitudinal axis. Consider again the forearm and hand restingpalm-side down on a planar desktop, particularly when the hand andforearm are comfortably aligned and the fingers are extended straightand held tightly together. In this disposition of the forearm and hand,the plane of the desktop defines a radial-ulnar plane; a longitudinalaxis is defined along the length of the forearm; and the four fingers ofthe hand extend generally parallel to the longitudinal axis.Furthermore, rotation of a radial-ulnar plane by ninety degrees aboutthe longitudinal axis produces a volar-dorsal plane. For example, when apostcard is slipped between adjacent fingers such that an edge of thepostcard abuts the desktop and is held parallel to the longitudinalaxis, and such that the postcard stands vertically and ninety degreesfrom the plane of the desktop, the postcard defines a volar-dorsalplane.

It should be furthermore understood that the views of supports found inthe accompanying drawings relate to a left forearm, wrist, and hand. Forexample, an image of a left hand appears in the environmental view ofFIG. 6. Nevertheless, the accompanying drawings, and the descriptionsherein, by the use of well-defined unambiguous terms, relate as well tobraces adapted for a right forearm, wrist, and hand.

Turning now the figures, a first embodiment of the invention is shown inFIGS. 1-4, wherein a wrist support 10 comprises a first section 12 forreceiving a forearm, a second section 14 for receiving a hand, and abridging section 16 extending between and connecting together the firstsection 12 and the second section 14. The bridging section 16 permitsflexing of the second section 14 relative to the first section 12,particularly in a radial-ulnar plane. That is, the bridging section 16permits flexing of the second section 14 in a radial direction 18 (FIG.2) and in an ulnar direction 20 relative to the first section 12.

The bridging section 16 preferably comprises an elastomeric materialthat is generally flexible and recoverable. The bridging section 16generally maintains or biases the second section 14 to obtain aparticular disposition, for example that of FIGS. 2-3, relative to thefirst section 12. However, when forces in radial and ulnar directions18,20 are present, such as when the wrist support 10 is donned and ahand is flexed in radial and ulnar directions, the bridging section 16particularly accommodates such flexing.

As shown in FIGS. 2-3, the bridging section includes an intermediateportion preferably having a height 22 (FIG. 3) in a volar-dorsal planethat is greater its width 24 (FIG. 2) in a radial-ulnar plane. Thebridging section, at least in the intermediate portion thereof where theheight 22 and width 24 are defined, thereby is particularly moreflexible with regard to flexions in the radial direction 18 and theulnar direction 20 than in the volar direction and the dorsal direction.

The first section 12 of the wrist support 10 is adapted to receive aforearm and releasably retain the forearm. An arcuate forearm pad 96(FIGS. 1-4) is attached to a margin of the first section 12 of the wristsupport 10 and, optionally, is formed of the same material as thebridging section 16 described in detail below.

The first section 12 optionally retains the forearm by way of a strap.For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the first section 12 comprises aforearm-receiving area 12 a defined between opposing end portions 26,28that further define respective strap attachment openings 30,32 forreceipt there through of a first strap 34 (FIGS. 1-3). The first strapis shown as affixed at one end 34 a (FIG. 3) thereof to the end portion28 of the first section 12, for example by stitching 36.

When the wrist support 10 is donned (not shown) such that the dorsalside of a forearm is received by the receiving area 12 a (FIGS. 1,4),which receiving-area 12 a is contoured to fit the dorsal side of theforearm. The second end 34 b of the first strap 34 also is generallypassed through the strap attachment opening 30 defined in the endportion 26 (FIG. 4) such that the forearm is completely encircled by thefirst section 12 and the first strap 34. The second end 34 b of thefirst strap is releasably fastened to securely maintain the encirclementsuch that the forearm is releasably retained in the forearm-receivingarea 12 a.

For example, the first strap 34 optionally has a fastener 38 forfastening the second end thereof to a fastener 40 of the first section12. In the illustrated example, the fastener 38 of the first strapcomprises loops whereas the fastener 40 of the first section 12comprises hooks that releasably engage loops in hook-and-loopengagement. Such hook-and-loop fasteners are commonly sold and known bythe trademark VELCRO. In other examples, fasteners include buttons,snaps, hooks and eyelets, clasps, zippers, and adhesives such as that ofreplaceable fabric sports tape.

The second section 14 of the wrist support 10 is configured to receiveand releasably retain a hand. In particular, the second section 14comprises a dorsal portion 44 (FIG. 2), a volar portion 46 attached tothe dorsal portion 44 by way of a radial portion 48, and an ulnarportion 50 attached to the dorsal portion 44. A hand-receiving area 14 a(FIGS. 1-3) is defined between the dorsal portion 44 and volar portion46, and between the radial portion 48 and the ulnar portion 50. A strapis optionally adapted for releasably retaining a hand (not shown) in thereceiving area 14 a.

In the illustrated example, a strap attachment opening 42 (FIG. 2) isdefined by the volar portion 46. A second strap 52 is shown as affixedto the volar portion 46, for example by way of stitches. The secondstrap 52 comprises a fastener 54 for releasably fastening the strap 52to a fastener 56 of the ulnar portion 50. In the illustrated example,the fastener 54 of the second strap comprises loops whereas the fastener56 of the ulnar portion 50 comprises hooks that releasably engage loopsin hook-and-loop engagement. In other examples, fasteners includebuttons, snaps, hooks and eyelets, clasps, zippers, and adhesives suchas that of replaceable fabric sports tape.

When the wrist support is donned (not shown) such that a hand isreceived by the receiving area 14 a and the second strap 52 is fastenedto the ulnar portion 50, the hand is completely encircled by the secondsection 14 and the second strap 52, the second section comprising thedorsal portion 44, the radial portion 48, the volar portion 46, and theulnar portion 50.

Whereas various materials and methods of forming of wrist supports andportions thereof are within the scope of the descriptions herein, in thefirst embodiment of FIGS. 1-4, the bridging section 16 preferably isintegrally formed in a molding step with at least a portion of one ofthe first section 12 and the second section 14. That is, the bridgingsection 16 is integrally formed in a molding step with at least aportion of the first section 12, or, the bridging section is integrallyformed in a molding step with at least a portion of the second section14, or, the bridging section is integrally formed in a molding step withrespective portions of both of the first section and the second section.

In a particular example, the bridging section 16 and portions of thesecond section 14 are formed in an injection molding step from a firstelastomeric material, and the first section is formed in a differentmolding step from a different material. In this example, the bridgingsection 16 (FIG. 1) and both the radial portion 48 and the ulnar portion50 of the second section 14 all are integrally formed in a singlemolding step from a first elastomeric material. Further in this example,the first section 12 is formed in another injection molding step from arigid or semi-rigid material, and both the dorsal portion 44 and thevolar portion 46 of the second section 14 are formed from a rigid orsemi-rigid material.

Exemplary elastomeric materials include, but are not limited to:thermoplastic elastomers; silicone; high temperature silicone;elastomeric plastics, particularly moldable and injection-moldableplastics; and rubber.

Exemplary rigid or semi-rigid materials include, but are not limited to:plastics, particularly moldable and injection-moldable plastics; Nylon66; fiberglass; carbon and carbon composites; polycarbonate;polyoxymethylene; polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA); polyacetal;urea-formaldehyde; polystyrene; and vinyl polymers.

As shown in FIGS. 1-4, the wrist support 10 further comprises atensioning line 58 that extends along the bridging section 16 betweenthe first section 12 and the second section 14. The tensioning line isutilized to apply tension between the first section and second section.Optionally, a tension line guide 60 is disposed on the bridging section16 for guidance of the tensioning line 58.

In the first embodiment of the wrist support 10, the tension line guide60 comprises an arcuate wire bail having ends disposed in detents 61 orholes (FIG. 4) of the bridging section 16. The tensioning line 58 passesthrough the tension line guide for maintenance of the tensioning line inits intended disposition along the extent of the bridging section 16.For further guiding of the tensioning line 58, a channel 62 (FIG. 4)optionally is formed in the bridging section 16.

The bridging section 16 generally biases the second section 14 to obtaina particular disposition, for example that of FIGS. 2-3, relative to thefirst section 12, wherein the particular disposition is variableaccording to the effective length of the tensioning line 58. The firstsection 12 defines a first axis 70 along which the first section isadapted to receive a forearm (not shown), such that the first axis 70 isparallel and optionally coincident with the longitudinal axis of theforearm. The second section 14 defines a second axis 72 along which thesecond section 14 is adapted to receive a hand (not shown). As shown inFIG. 3, an angle 74 is defined between the first axis 70 and the secondaxis 72. The disposition of the second section 14 relative to the firstsection 12 is defined by, among other things, the angle 74.

As the bridging section 16 preferably comprises a elastomeric materialthat is flexible and recoverable, and as tension in the tensioning line58 generally applies torque about the bridging section, shortening thetensioning line, which is attached at respective ends thereof to thefirst and second sections 12,14, generally increases the tension of theline and thereby causes flexing of the bridging section 16, particularlyin the dorsal direction 76 (FIG. 3). Subsequently re-lengthening thetensioning line generally decreases the tension of the line therebyallowing the flexed bridging section to return toward the volardirection 78. Thus, in a sense, the bridging section 16 comprises acontinuous hinge extending between the first section 12 and the secondsection 14, in that a single hinging axis passing through the bridgingsection 16 is not necessarily uniquely defined by flexions of thebridging section. The bridging section 16 preferably is capable ofstretching and recovering so that it conforms to the exterior of thewrist allowing a hand to flex relative to a forearm about axes withinthe wrist.

Flexing of the bridging section 16 in the dorsal direction causes thesecond section 14 to travel in the dorsal direction relative to thefirst section 12 and causes the second axis 72 to rotate away from thefirst axis 70 thereby increasing the angle 74. A return of the flexedbridging section 16 toward the volar direction allows the second section14 to return toward the volar direction relative to the first section 12and allows the second axis 72 to return toward the first axis 70 therebydecreasing the angle 74.

The volar-dorsal flexions of the bridging section 16 and the relativedisposition of the second section 14 to the first section 12 are therebyrelated to the tension and length of the tensioning line 58. Inparticular, insofar as the tensioning line is taut, tension in thetensioning line 58 generally precludes the angle 74 from decreasing byrestraining movement of the second section 14 in the volar direction 78relative to the first section 12. Adjustments in the length of thetensioning line 58 generally thereby effect adjustments in the angle 74.

For convenient adjustments of the length of the tensioning line 58, thewrist support 10 further comprises an adjustment mechanism such as arotary device 80 (FIG. 4). The rotary device is operable to adjust theeffective length of the tensioning line 58 which extends from the deviceas shown in FIG. 4. The rotary device includes a rotatable control knob82 (FIGS. 1-4) for grasping by a user in controlling the device and inadjusting the wrist support. Upon rotation of the rotatable control knob82 in a first rotational direction 84, a portion of the tensioning line58 is drawn into the rotary device 80, thereby effectively shorteningthe line for adjusting the angle 74, specifically increasing the angle74 (FIG. 3). Furthermore, by pressing of the rotatable control knob 82,a portion of the tensioning line 58 preferably is released from thedevice, thereby effectively lengthening the line for adjusting the angle74, specifically decreasing the angle 74.

It should be understood that, while the first rotational direction 84 isillustrated as being clockwise in FIGS. 1-2, the descriptions hereinrelate to counterclockwise rotations as well. Thus, the wrist support ofthe first embodiment is variably adjusted, with regard to thedisposition of the second section relative to the first section, byrotating and pressing the control knob 82.

An exemplary rotary device is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,042,177titled “Rotary Closure for a Sports Shoe, Especially a Ski Shoe,” whichpatent is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

In another embodiment of the invention, not illustrated, components of awrist support are adjusted from a first relative disposition to a secondrelative disposition upon rotation of a control knob in one rotationaldirection, and are subsequently returned to the first relativedisposition upon rotation of the control knob in an opposite rotationaldirection. That is, in this other embodiment, the wrist support isvariably adjusted by rotations of a control knob in opposite rotationaldirections.

In yet another embodiment of the invention, not illustrated, a wristsupport is adjusted with regard to the relative dispositions of thesections 12,14 thereof by rotation of a control knob and by pulling ofthe knob outwardly from the support to release the tensioning line woundtherein.

It should be apparent that the present invention has many embodimentsand the descriptions herein of particular rotary devices are provide asexamples and are not to be construed as limitations of the invention.

The rotary device 80 (FIG. 4) of the wrist support 10 is received by areceiving area 86 defined by the first section 12. The rotary device 80snaps securely into and is retained within the receiving area 86. Afirst end 58 a of the tensioning line 58 is passed through a grommet 88formed in the first section 12 and extends there from along the bridgingsection 16 as shown in FIG. 1. An opposing end 58 b of the tensioningline distal the rotary device 80 is attached, as shown in FIG. 1, to thedorsal portion 44 of the second section 14 at a grommet 90 (FIG. 4).

In FIG. 3, the wrist support 10 is shown as having obtained adisposition of the second section 14 relative to the first section 12,wherein the disposition is defined by, among other things, the angle 74between the first axis 70 and the second axis 72. It should beunderstood that the wrist support 10 is dynamic and is variablyadjustable according to rotations of the control knob 82. Thus, FIG. 3relates to a snapshot view of a dynamic wrist support, wherein, in thissnapshot, the tensioning line 58 is taut, but does not appreciably flexthe bridging section 16. That is, the wrist support 10 is shown in FIGS.1-3 as having obtained a disposition preferred by the formation of thebridging section 16, though the wrist support 10 can nonetheless obtainother dispositions by forcible flexing of the bridging section 16.

It furthermore should be understood that no numeric value is givenherein with reference to the angle 74, and it should be understood thatthe angle according to the preferred disposition is predeterminedaccording to considerations that can include, but are not limited to:the comfort of the wearer of the wrist support; the activities for whichthe wrist support is adapted; and, the prescription of a health careprovider.

In the first embodiment of the invention, the tensioning line 58comprises a flexible and inextensible line. The tensioning line isillustrated in FIGS. 1-4 as a monofilament line though thesedescriptions relate as well to multifilament lines and many types ofelongate flexible lines having various constructions and formed ofvarious materials having respective tensile and flexible properties.

Exemplary constructions include, but are not limited to: monofilamentlines, multifilament lines, wound lines, woven lines, braided lines,layered lines, strings, ropes, cords, threads, twines, intertwinedstrands, chains, tethers, belts, bands, straps, and combinationsthereof.

Exemplary materials include, but are not limited to: natural fibersincluding hemp, cotton, linen, hide, gut, and sinew; synthetic andplastic fibers such as nylon, polyethylene, and fluorocarbon; linesformed of metals such as wires and cables, in particular wound steelcables; and, combinations thereof.

The first and second sections 12,14 are each optionally padded forcomfort of the wearer of the wrist support 10. Padding, when present,preferably comprises soft materials, which optionally may be detachablefor washing. Exemplary materials include, but are not limited to,natural and synthetic fabrics, pliable foams, elastic fabrics, neoprene,spandex, felt, natural and synthetic chamois, and various elastomericmaterials.

Turning now to a second embodiment shown in various views in FIGS. 5-8,a wrist support 110 comprises a first section 112 for receiving aforearm, a second section 114 for receiving a hand, and a bridgingsection 116 extending between and connecting together the first sectionand second section. The bridging section 116 permits flexing of thesecond section 114 relative to the first section 112, particularly in aradial-ulnar plane. That is, the bridging section 116 permits flexing ofthe second section 114 in a radial direction 118 (FIG. 6) and in anulnar direction 120 relative to the first section 112.

The bridging section 116 preferably comprises an elastomeric materialthat is generally flexible and recoverable. The bridging section 116generally maintains or biases the second section 114 to obtain aparticular disposition, for example that of FIGS. 6-7, relative to thefirst section 112. However, when forces in radial and ulnar directions118,120 are present, such as when the wrist support 110 is donned and ahand is flexed in radial and ulnar directions, the bridging section 116particularly permits such flexing.

The wrist support 110 of FIGS. 5-8 bears many similarities to the wristsupport 10 of FIGS. 1-4. Therefore, many of the descriptions hereinrelate to both apparatus 10 and apparatus 110. However, in the interestof providing descriptions of the present invention that has manyembodiments, and in the interest of minimizing duplicative descriptions,the descriptions below relate particularly to features and benefits ofthe wrist support 110 that are generally not merely duplicative to thoseof the wrist support 10.

For example, whereas the wrist support 10 (FIG. 3) is shown as havingobtained a disposition preferred by the bridging section 16 such thatthe second axis 72 and the first axis 70 are disposed at an appreciabledistance in the radial-ulnar plane (FIG. 2) and at an angle 74 to oneanother (FIG. 3), the wrist support 110 is shown in FIG. 7 as havingobtained a disposition preferred by the bridging section 116 wherein thesecond axis 172 defined by the second section 114 essentially extends ina parallel plane with the first axis 170 defined by the first section112. Furthermore, the first axis 170 and second axis 172 may extendparallel to one another when the axes 170,172 additionally are alignedas shown in FIG. 6. That is, while the wrist support 10 (FIG. 3) isconstructed to prefer a dorsal flexion of the hand relative to theforearm (a dorsi-flexed wrist), the wrist support 110 (FIG. 7) isconstructed to prefer alignment of the hand with the forearm (anunflexed or neutral wrist).

In another embodiment (not shown), a wrist support is constructed toprefer a volar flexion of the hand relative to the forearm (avolar-flexed wrist).

Therefore in view of the wrist support 10 (FIG. 3) of the firstembodiment, and in view of the wrist support 110 (FIG. 7) of the secondembodiment, it should be understood that preferred dispositions ofvarious other embodiments relate to wrist flexions in dorsal, volar,radial, and ulnar directions, and combinations thereof, according toconsiderations that can include, but are not limited to: the comfort ofthe wearer of the wrist support; the activities for which the wristsupport is adapted; and, the prescription of a health care provider.

The second embodiment 110 further illustrates another feature of thepresent invention, wherein the tension line guide 160 (FIG. 8) comprisesa hub 160 a, multiple arms 160 b depending from the hub 160 a, andmultiple grommets 160 c attached respectively to the multiple arms 160b. The tensioning line 158 passes through and is guided along thebridging section 116 by the grommets 160 c as shown in FIGS. 5-7.

In this embodiment, the arms 160 b and hub 160 a are disposed within thebridging section 116. For example, such disposition can be effected bymolding of the bridging section 116 about the tension line guide 160.The tension line guide 160 thereby defines a skeletal structure disposedand captured within the bridging section 116.

Optionally, the bridging section 116 is formed of an elastomericmaterial and the tension line guide 160 is formed of a rigid orsemirigid material.

In a variation of this feature, the tension line guide 160 of the secondembodiment (FIG. 8) further comprises opposing members 160 d whichdefine respective strap attachment openings 160 e. In this embodiment,the wrist support comprises a first strap 134 (FIG. 5) for securing thefirst section 112 to a forearm as shown in FIGS. 6-7, a second strap 152(FIG. 5) for securing the second section 114 to a hand as shown in FIG.6, and a third strap 153 (FIG. 5) for securing the bridging section 116to a wrist which the bridging section 116 spans, as shown in FIG. 6. Insecuring the bridging section 116 to the wrist, the third strap 153 ispassed through the strap attachment openings 160 e of the tension lineguide 160.

The second embodiment 110 further illustrates another feature of thepresent invention, wherein the dorsal portion 144 (FIGS. 6,8) and theulnar portion 150 are integrally formed together, optionally of a firstmaterial that is different from the material from which the radialportion 148 is formed. The volar portion 146 also is optionally formedof a material that is different from the material from which the radialportion 148 is formed. For example, the radial portion 148 and thebridging section 116 optionally are integrally formed in a molding stepof an elastomeric material while the dorsal portion 144 and volarportion 146 are optionally formed of a rigid or semirigid material.

Despite other differences in the first and second embodiments, insimilarity to the bridging section 16 of the first embodiment, thebridging portion 116 is formed of a flexible and recoverable materialsuch that the disposition of the second section 114 relative to thefirst section 112 is variable according to, among other things, thelength and tension of the tensioning line 158 (FIGS. 5-7) as governed,at least in part, by the rotary device 180.

1. A method of making a wrist support, comprising the steps of: (a)molding a first section such that the first section is configured toreceive a forearm; (b) molding a second section such that the secondsection is configured to receive a hand; and (c) molding a bridgingsection; (d) wherein the bridging section is integrally formed with oneof the first section and the second section, and extends between andconnects together the first section and the second section; (e) whereinthe bridging section is generally flexible and recoverable and permitsflexing of the second section relative to the first section in aradial-ulnar plane when a forearm is received by the first section ofthe wrist support and a hand is received by the second section of thewrist support, the bridging section biasing the first section and thesecond section toward a particular disposition relative to each other;and (f) wherein the bridging section is molded such that an intermediateportion of the bridging section has a height in a volar-dorsal planethat is greater than its width in the radial-ulnar plane.
 2. The methodof claim 1, further comprising providing a tensioning line such that thetensioning line extends between the first section and the second sectionfor applying tension between the first section and the second section.3. The method of claim 2, further comprising providing a rotary deviceon the first section configured to shorten a portion of the tensioningline extending between the first section and the second section forincreasing the tension therebetween.
 4. The method of claim 2, whereinsaid step of molding the bridging section comprises forming a guidechannel in a surface of the bridging section that receives and guidesthe tensioning line between the first section and the second section. 5.The method of claim 1, wherein the bridging section is integrally formedwith both the first section and the second section.
 6. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the bridging section is integrally formed with only oneof the first section and the second section.
 7. A method of making awrist support, comprising the steps of: (a) molding a first section suchthat the first section is configured to receive a forearm; (b) molding asecond section such that the second section is configured to receive ahand; and (c) molding a bridging section; (d) wherein the bridgingsection is integrally formed with the second section, and extendsbetween and connects together the first section and the second section;(e) wherein the bridging section is generally flexible and recoverableand permits flexing of the second section relative to the first sectionin a radial-ulnar plane when a forearm is received by the first sectionof the wrist support and a hand is received by the second section of thewrist support, the bridging section biasing the first section and thesecond section toward a particular disposition relative to each other;and (f) wherein the second section and the bridging section areintegrally formed in said steps (b) and (c) from a first elastomericmaterial such that the second section and bridging section are generallyflexible and recoverable, and wherein the first section is formed insaid step (a) from a different material such that the first section isrigid.
 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the method further comprisesproviding a tensioning line such that the tensioning line extendsbetween the first section and the second section for applying tensionbetween the first section and the second section.
 9. The method of claim8, further comprising providing a rotary device on the first sectionconfigured to shorten a portion of the tensioning line extending betweenthe first section and the second section for increasing the tensiontherebetween.
 10. The method of claim 8, wherein said step of moldingthe bridging section comprises forming a guide channel in a surface ofthe bridging section that receives and guides the tensioning linebetween the first section and the second section.
 11. A method of makinga wrist support, comprising the steps of: (a) molding a first sectionsuch that the first section is configured to receive a forearm; (b)molding a second section such that the second section is configured toreceive a hand; and (c) molding a bridging section; (d) wherein thebridging section is integrally formed with one of the first section andthe second section, and extends between and connects together the firstsection and the second section; (e) wherein the bridging section isgenerally flexible and recoverable and permits flexing of the secondsection relative to the first section in a radial-ulnar plane when aforearm is received by the first section of the wrist support and a handis received by the second section of the wrist support, the bridgingsection biasing the first section and the second section toward aparticular disposition relative to each other; and wherein the methodfurther comprises providing a tensioning line such that the tensioningline extends between the first section and the second section forapplying tension between the first section and the second section. 12.The method of claim 11, further comprising providing a rotary device onthe first section configured to shorten a portion of the tensioning lineextending between the first section and the second section forincreasing the tension therebetween.
 13. The method of claim 11, whereinsaid step of molding the bridging section comprises forming a guidechannel in a surface of the bridging section that receives and guidesthe tensioning line between the first section and the second section.14. The method of claim 11, wherein the bridging section is integrallyformed with both the first section and the second section.
 15. Themethod of claim 11, wherein the bridging section is integrally formedwith only one of the first section and the second section.
 16. A methodof making a wrist support, comprising the steps of: (a) molding a firstsection such that the first section is configured to receive a forearm;(b) molding a second section such that the second section is configuredto receive a hand; and (c) molding a bridging section; (d) wherein thebridging section is integrally formed with the first section and thesecond section, and extends between and connects together the firstsection and the second section; (e) wherein the bridging section isgenerally flexible and recoverable and permits flexing of the secondsection relative to the first section in a radial-ulnar plane when aforearm is received by the first section of the wrist support and a handis received by the second section of the wrist support, the bridgingsection biasing the first section and the second section toward aparticular disposition relative to each other; and wherein said step ofmolding the bridging section comprises forming the bridging section suchthat the bridging section comprises a single elongate member; whereinthe first section, the second section, and the bridging section form asingle molded piece; and wherein, out of the single molded piece, onlythe single elongate member of the bridging section extends between andjoins the first section and the second section.
 17. The method of claim16, wherein the method further comprises providing a tensioning linesuch that the tensioning line extends between the first section and thesecond section for applying tension between the first section and thesecond section.
 18. The method of claim 17, further comprising providinga rotary device on the first section configured to shorten a portion ofthe tensioning line extending between the first section and the secondsection for increasing the tension therebetween.
 19. The method of claim17, wherein said step of molding the bridging section comprises forminga guide channel in a surface of the bridging section that receives andguides the tensioning line between the first section and the secondsection.